To deal with leg cramps that do not respond well to those lighter version remedies, here are a few things you can try.

Soak your feet in hot water mixed with epsom salt for 20 minutes. Fill hot (lukewarm rarely works) water in a basin big enough to hold both feet, then add ½ cup of epsom salt. Water level has to be high enough to cover the ankles. Put your feet into the basin, regardless how hot the water initially feels. With heat, all six meridians running on your feet– kidneys, liver, spleen, stomach, gallbladder, and bladder–start to open up and Qi and blood flow into the areas of blockage. Chinese medicine regards every single disorder, including leg cramps, as stagnation of Qi and blood flow. Approximately 20 minutes later, you will feel warm and tingly sensation in the lower half of the body.

(Note: Our feet have the most and largest pores of the body, therefore with salt will not only draws toxins out of the body, the body absorbs the magnesium in epsom salts. This method effectively deals with chronic arthritis in the feet and ankles, plantar fasciitis, achilles heel tendonitis, and even toenail fungus infections.)

After the foot bath, make a fist and rub on the center of the soles.

3. Press and knead on the following points: Taixi (KD3), Kun Lun (BL60), Cheng Shan (BL57), Yang Ling Quan(GB 34), Zu San Li (ST36). Use the thumb to knead forcefully on each point for 30 seconds.

Squeeze and roll the calf muscles with both hands, begin at the ankle and move gradually upwards, for 2 minutes.

The above is suggested to be a routine before sleep. You can try one or more of the above remedies to find out to which protocols your body reacts most favorably. In a few days, most of your leg cramps will be eliminated.

There are many acupuncture points in addressing anxiety issues. Most famous one is called “YinTang” which is located in the midpoint between the eyebrows. Another one is “TaiYang” which is right on the temples, between the outer edge of the eyes and the hairline. I’ve written about these points many times previously. Beside these points, many doctors in China use the Buddhist triangle points in treating anxiety and depression.

The Buddhist triangle is situated on your wrist. As shown in the picture, three points–Lung 9, Pericardium 6, and Heart 7– form a triangle on the palmar side of the wrist. Three of these points form a potent combination to reduce anxiety and calm the nervous system.

Lung 9 (On the radial crease of the wrist where the radial artery pulsates): As the ‘source point’ of the Lung meridian, this point opens up the blockage of the entire Lung meridian. This point makes breathing easier, reduce phlegms, eliminate asthmatic conditions, and warm cold hands and feets. Since the Lung is directly associated with “grief and sadness,” opening up Lung 9 will alleviate overall feeling of sadness, depression, heaviness of the heart.

Pericardium 6 (On the palmar aspect of the forearm, about 1.5 inches above the crease of the wrist, between two tendons): PC 6 opens the chest, protects the heart, calms the spirit, relieves nausea and vomiting.Thisis an extremely popular and useful point. It is very helpful in treating insomnia, melancholiness, and repressed emotions.

Heart 7 (On the ulnar crease of the wrist between two tendons): Called ShenMen (meaning the gate of spirit), HT7 is the source point of the heart meridian. This point is widely used in treating insomnia, amnesia, cardiac pain, palpitations due to fright, mania, epilepsy, and even stupor. HT7 is “the” point for emotional issues, especially excessive anxiety and worry.

A gentle but firm pressure on these triangle points for 4-5 seconds each, twice a day, may provide a significant relief in dealing with anxiety, depression, frustration, eating disorders, pent-up anger, and other repressive emotions. You can use blunt side of a ballpoint pen in pressing these points.

Although I’ve written on anxiety/depression many times, a dramatic increase of calls/inquiries regarding anxiety made me re-address the same subject one more time. In fact, I’ve never seen this kind of spike on anxiety concerns for the last 15 years. Shockingly, it’s not just among adults; more teenagers and children under 10 report that they simply cannot cope. Many people are at a loss about what to do with growing anxiety. In the next two blog articles, I will examine why anxiety has become a national epidemic and introduce Buddhist triangle acupuncture points, hoping that self-administered acupressure on these points may provide much-needed help in relieving anxiety, depression, and stress.

Sit, stand or lie with your knees slightly apart. Slowly tighten your entire pelvic floor muscles. Imagine that you’re tightening GV1 as hard as you can. Then, start squeezing CV1 which is located on the frontal aspect of GV1.

GV1 (Governor Vessel No. 1, English Name: Long Strong, Pinyin Name: Chang Qiang, Chinese Character: 長強), which is right on the midway between the tip of the coccyx bone and the anus. (See the photo, GV1 in red color)

Then, there’s CV1 (Conception Vessel No. 1, English Name: Meeting of Yin, Pinyin Name: Huiyin, Chinese Character: 會陰), which is In the center of the perineum (Males: in between the anus and the scrotum, Females: between the anus and the posterior labial commissure).

Hold to the count of five, then relax. These are called long squeezes (This long squeeze is to be done only once).

Then do the same exercise as quickly as possible (short squeezes) for 10 consecutive times.

Remember this consists of one LONG, and 10 SHORT squeezes.

Repeat this cycle at least eight times. It should only take about five minutes.

Things to Remember

You need to do the exercises every day.

Try to do the above exercises at least three times a day.

If you can, do each set of exercises in different positions. That is, sometimes when sitting, sometimes when standing and sometimes when lying down.

As the muscles become stronger, increase the length of time you hold each long squeeze: hold it each time for a count of 10 (about 10 seconds) instead of 5.

Do not squeeze other muscles at the same time as you squeeze your pelvic floor muscles. For example, try not to use any muscles in your back, thighs, or buttocks.

After several weeks the muscles will start to feel stronger. You may find you can squeeze the pelvic floor muscles for much longer (30 seconds or even 1 minute) without the muscles feeling tired.

It takes time, effort and practice to become good at these exercises. You should start to see benefits after a few weeks. However, it often takes two to five months for most improvement to occur. After this time you may be cured of incontinence.

If these exercises do not give you sufficient relief, you need to call an urologist, an acupuncturist and/or physiotherapist who can help you.

Urinary incontinence occurs when there’s not enough support throughout the pelvic floor muscles. Medically speaking, there are two kinds of incontinence: stress incontinence, childbirth-related incontinence.

In stress incontinence, urine leaks when there is a sudden extra pressure on the bladder. Urine tends to leak most when you cough, laugh, or exercise. Many women start experiencing urinary incontinence around/after menopause; many men who have prostate issues and/or weak kidney/bladder functions also experience urinary incontinence.

After childbirth. The pelvic floor muscles tend to become weakened after childbirth. Some new mothers, especially those who had gone through long hours of labour, can experience urinary incontinence intermittently for a few months. This may or may not develop into a full-blown incontinence later in life.

Need to Understand Pelvic Floor Muscles

The pelvic floor muscles are a group of muscles that wrap around the underneath of the bladder and rectum.

As you can see, the pelvic floor muscles cover the entire pelvic area, from the tip of the coccyx to the frontal pelvic bone.

Wherever the pain and inflammation is, gently hold the area and focus on deep breathing for a few minutes. Heat, generated by heating pad or other infra-red lights are extremely helpful. Magnets are also extremely useful in relieving tension, inflammation, and pain on the joints.

Two important points for all arthritic and joint pains, both on the Gallbladder meridian.

GB 34 — Yang Ling Quian

Location: Four finger widths below the kneecap, one finger width to the outside of the leg. Benefits: Strengthens the body, benefits the joints, and relieves the fatigue that often results from the drain of dealing with arthritic pain.

GB 20 – Feng Chi (Wind Pool, Gates of Consciousness)

Location: Below the base of the skull, in the hollow between the two large, vertical neck muscles, two to three inches apart depending on the size of the head.

Benefits: Relieves arthritis, as well as the following common complaints that often accompany arthritic pain: headaches, insomnia, stiff neck, neck pain, fatigue, and general irritability.